Guildford (UK Parliament constituency)

This article is about the British constituency in Surrey, England. For the Canadian provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia of a similar name, see Surrey-Guildford.

Guildford
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of Guildford in Surreyfor the 2010 general election
Location of Surrey within England
County	Surrey
Electorate	77,517 (December 2010) [1]
Major settlements	Guildford, Cranleigh, Worplesdon
Current constituency
Created	1885
Member of Parliament	Angela Richardson (Conservative)
Seats	One
1295–1885
Seats	1295–1868: Two 1868–1885: One
Type of constituency	Borough constituency

Guildford is a constituency ^{[n 1]} in Surrey represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Angela Richardson, a Conservative. ^{[n 2]}

Constituency profile

The seat covers Guildford itself and a more rural area within the Surrey Hills AONB. The seat voted Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, and has wealthier and healthier residents than the national average. ^[2]

History

From the first Commons in the Model Parliament of 1295 Guildford was a parliamentary borough sending two members to Parliament until 1868 ^{[3] [n 3]} and one until 1885. In the latter years of sending two members a bloc vote system of elections was used. Until 1885 the electorate in the town of Guildford elected the member(s) of parliament, ^[4] which expanded in 1885 into a county division under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.

Early political history

The seat elected between 1868 and 2001 Conservatives. Exceptions in this period took place when the two-then-three main British parties' policies were beginning to coalesce. The first was a continuation of the centuries-old representation of Guildford by influential members of the Earl of Onslow's family, including a single member winning three widely spaced elections, before being defeated by a further member of the same family in its minor Sussex and British Indian branch, then the majority of the seat's voters were again swayed toward the Liberal landslide of the 1906 general election.

Modern political history

Successive elections in 2001 and 2005 saw marginal majorities of under 2% of the vote - in favour of a Liberal Democrat and then a Conservative. The 2015 result brought the incumbent MP a Conservative majority of more than 41%, up from 14% in 2010. The seat swung substantially to the Liberal Democrats in 2019, and is now a marginal again with a Conservative majority of just over 3,000 votes.

Boundaries

Context of 1906.

Context of 1923

Map of current boundaries

1885–1918: The Boroughs of Guildford and Godalming, the Sessional Division of Farnham, and part of the Sessional Division of Guildford.

1918–1950: The Boroughs of Guildford and Godalming, the Urban District of Haslemere, ^{[lower-alpha 1]} the Rural District of Hambledon, ^{[lower-alpha 1]} and the Rural District of Guildford ^{[lower-alpha 2]} except the civil parish of Pirbright.

1. Was part of Sessional Division of Farnham, the remainder of which formed, with Woking and most of modern Surrey Heath a new seat, named Farnham
2. This meant rural gains from Chertsey e.g. Send, Ripley, E. & W. Clandon and E. & W. Horsley

1950–1983: The Borough of Guildford, in the Rural District of Guildford the parishes of Artington, Compton, Puttenham, Shackleford, Shalford, Wanborough, and Worplesdon, and in the Rural District of Hambledon the parishes of Alfold, Bramley, Busbridge, Cranleigh, Dunsfold, Ewhurst, Hambledon, Hascombe, and Wonersh.

1983–1997: The Borough of Guildford wards of Christchurch, Friary and St Nicolas, Holy Trinity, Merrow and Burpham, Onslow, Pilgrims, Shalford, Stoke, Stoughton, Tongham, Westborough, and Worplesdon, and the District of Waverley wards of Blackheath and Wonersh, Bramley, Cranleigh East, Cranleigh West, Ewhurst, and Shamley Green.

1997–2010: As above less Tongham ward.

2010–present: The Borough of Guildford wards of Burpham, Christchurch, Friary and St Nicolas, Holy Trinity, Merrow, Onslow, Pilgrims, Shalford, Stoke, Stoughton, Westborough, and Worplesdon, and the Borough of Waverley wards of Alfold, Blackheath and Wonersh, Cranleigh East, Cranleigh Rural and Ellens Green, Cranleigh West, Ewhurst, and Shamley Green and Cranleigh North.

The seat, at greatest limits from 1885 to 1918, still comprises Guildford and nearby parts of Surrey.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

• The Borough of Guildford wards of: Burpham; Christchurch; Clandon and Horsley; Effingham; Friary and St. Nicolas; Holy Trinity; Lovelace; Merrow; Onslow; Send; Stoke; Stoughton; Westborough; Worplesdon. ^[5]

The electorate will be reduced to bring it within the permitted range by transferring the parts in the Borough of Waverley, including Cranleigh to the newly created constituency of Godalming and Ash (except the small Ewhurst ward, which will be included in Dorking and Horley). To compensate, the wards of Clandon and Horsley, Effingham, Lovelace, and Send will become part of the constituency, moving from the former Mole Valley constituency. ^[6]

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023, ^{[7] [8]} the constituency will now comprise the following wards of the Borough of Guildford from the next general election:

• Bellfields & Slyfield; Burpham; Castle; Clandon & Horsley; Effingham; Merrow; Onslow; Send & Lovelace; St. Nicolas; Stoke; Stoughton North; Stoughton South; Westborough; Worplesdon. ^[6]

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1640

Parliament	First member	Second member
1377	Henry Colas
1381	Robert atte Mille
1386	John Gatyn	Henry Marlborough [9]
1388 (Feb)	John Bonet	Robert Chesenhale [9]
1388 (Sep)	John Thorne	Robert Vinter [9]
1390 (Jan)	Thomas Brocas	Robert Vinter [9]
1390 (Nov)
1391	John Gatyn	Robert Vinter [9]
1393	John Thorne	Henry Colas [9]
1394
1395	John Gatyn	Thomas Brocas [9]
1397 (Jan)	John Gatyn	John Bonet [9]
1397 (Sep)	Robert Chesenhale	Robert Vinter [9]
1399	John Gatyn	John Bonet [9]
1401	John Gatyn	Robert Hornmede [9]
1402	Robert atte Mille	John Cross [9]
1404 (Jan)	John Gatyn	Thomas Brocas [9]
1404 (Oct)
1406	William Gregory	Henry Rose [9]
1407	Robert Hull	John Wharton [9]
1410
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May)	Ralph Wimbledon	Richard Eton [9]
1414 (Apr)
1414 (Nov)	William Waterman	Geoffrey Mudge [9]
1415	Thomas Ingram	William Weston [9]
1416 (Mar)	John Hipperon	Richard Eton [9]
1416 (Oct)
1417	William Walsh	John Gregg [9]
1419	John Stoughton	William Weston [9]
1420	Richard Woking	John Wharton [9]
1421 (May)	Thomas Waller	John Gregg [9]
1421 (Dec)	Thomas Waller	Richard Woking [9]
1510-1523	No names known [10]
1529	Sir Thomas Palmer	John Dale [10]
1536	?
1539	?William Fitzwilliam	?John Bourne [10]
1542	Sir John Baker	William Fitzwilliam [10]
1545	Anthony Browne	Thomas Elyot [10]
1547	Sir Anthony Browne	Thomas Elyot, died and repl. by Jan 1552 by Thomas Stoughton [10]
1553 (Mar)	?
1553 (Oct)	William More	William Hammond [10]
1554 (Apr)	George Tadlow	William Hammond [10]
1554 (Nov)	Henry Polsted	William More [10]
1555	Henry Polsted	William More [10]
1558	Edward Popham	William Hammond [10]
1559	Sir Thomas Palmer	Thomas Stoughton [11]
1562–3	Thomas Bromley	John Austen [11]
1571	Peter Osborne	Henry Knollys [11]
1572	William More	Thomas Stoughton, died and repl. Jan 1581 by Lawrence Stoughton [11]
1584	George More	Laurence Stoughton [11]
1586	George More	Laurence Stoughton [11]
1588	Sir William More	George More [11]
1593	George More	Laurence Stoughton [11]
1597	Sir William More I	Sir Robert Southwell [11]
1601	Robert More	William Jackson [11]
1604	Sir George More	George Austen
1614	Sir Robert More	George Stoughton
1621	Sir Robert More	John Murray
1624	Sir Robert More	Nicholas Stoughton
1625	Sir Robert More	Robert Parkhurst, jnr
1626	Richard Shilton Shilton did not take his seat, and was replaced by Sir William Morley	Robert Parkhurst, jnr
1628	Robert Parkhurst	Poynings More
1629–1640	No Parliaments summoned

MPs 1640–1868

prior to 1868 the constituency was jointly represented by two MPs

Election	1st Member [12]		1st Party	2nd Member [12]		2nd Party
April 1640		Sir Robert Parkhurst	Parliamentarian		George Abbotts	Parliamentarian
November 1640		Sir Robert Parkhurst	Parliamentarian		George Abbotts	Parliamentarian
1645		Sir Robert Parkhurst	Parliamentarian		Nicholas Stoughton	Recruiter
1648		?			?
1653		Guildford not represented in Barebones Parliament
1654		Richard Hiller or Hillier			One seat only
1656		Colonel John Hewson			One seat only
1659		Carew Raleigh			Robert Parkhurst
1660		Richard Onslow			Arthur Onslow
1664		Thomas Dalmahoy
March 1679					Richard Onslow	Whig
October 1679		Morgan Randyll
1685		Heneage Finch	Tory
1689		Foot Onslow			John Weston	Tory
1690					Morgan Randyll
1701		Denzil Onslow	Whig
1705					Robert Wroth
1708					Morgan Randyll
1710					Robert Wroth
1711					Morgan Randyll
1713		Sir Richard Onslow, Bt	Whig
1714		Denzil Onslow	Whig
1717		Robert Wroth
1720		Arthur Onslow	Whig
1722					Thomas Brodrick
1727					Colonel Richard Onslow
1728		Henry Vincent
1734		Hon. Richard Onslow
1740 by-election		Denzil Onslow
1747		Sir John Elwill, Bt	Tory [13]
1760 by-election					George Onslow	Tory [13]
1768		Sir Fletcher Norton
1782 by-election		William Norton
1784		Viscount Cranley	Whig [13]		Chapple Norton
1790					George Holme Sumner	Tory [13]
1796					Chapple Norton	Whig [13]
1806		Thomas Cranley Onslow	Tory [13]		George Holme Sumner [n 4]	Tory [13]
March 1807					Chapple Norton	Whig [13]
1812					Arthur Onslow	Tory [13]
1818		William Best	Whig [13]
1819 by-election		Charles Baring Wall	Tory [13]
1826		George Chapple Norton	Whig [13]
1830		Charles Baring Wall	Tory [13]		George Holme Sumner	Tory [13]
1831		Charles Francis Norton	Whig [13]		James Mangles [14]	Whig [13]
1832		Charles Baring Wall	Tory [13]
1834			Conservative [13]
1837					James Yorke Scarlett	Conservative [13]
1841			Whig [13] [15] [16]		Ross Donnelly Mangles	Whig [17] [18] [13]
1847		Henry Currie	Conservative
1852		James Bell	Radical [18] [19]
1857		William Bovill	Conservative
1858 by-election					Guildford Onslow	Whig [20] [21] [22]
1859						Liberal
1866 by-election		Richard Garth	Conservative
1868	Representation reduced to one member

MPs since 1868

Election		Member [12]	Party
	1868	Guildford Onslow [20]	Liberal
	1874	Denzil Onslow	Conservative
	1885	St John Brodrick	Conservative
	1906	Henry Cowan	Liberal
	Jan 1910	Edgar Horne	Conservative
	1922	Henry Buckingham	Conservative
	1931 by-election	Charles Rhys	Conservative
	1935	Sir John Jarvis, Bt	Conservative
	1950	Richard Nugent	Conservative
	1966	David Howell	Conservative
	1997	Nick St Aubyn	Conservative
	2001	Sue Doughty	Liberal Democrat
	2005	Anne Milton	Conservative
	2019		Independent
	2019	Angela Richardson	Conservative

Elections

Results of the UK House of Commons seat Guildford, created in 1295, since 2001.

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Zöe Franklin [23]
	Labour	Sarah Gillinson [24]
	Conservative	Angela Richardson [25]
	Reform UK	Dennis Saunders [26]
Majority
Turnout

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Guildford ^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Angela Richardson	26,317	44.9	―9.7
	Liberal Democrats	Zöe Franklin	22,980	39.2	+15.3
	Labour	Anne Rouse	4,515	7.7	―11.3
	Independent	Anne Milton	4,356	7.4	new
	Peace	John Morris	483	0.8	+0.4
Majority			3,337	5.7	−25.0
Turnout			58,651	75.5	+1.8
Registered electors			77,729
	Conservative hold		Swing	−12.5

General election 2017: Guildford ^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Anne Milton	30,295	54.6	―2.5
	Liberal Democrats	Zöe Franklin	13,255	23.9	+8.4
	Labour	Howard Smith	10,545	19.0	+6.9
	Green	Mark Bray-Parry	1,152	2.1	―2.6
	Peace	John Morris	205	0.4	0.0
	Independent	Semi Essessi	57	0.1	New
Majority			17,040	30.7	―10.9
Turnout			55,509	73.7	+2.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	―5.5

General election 2015: Guildford ^{[29] [30]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Anne Milton	30,802	57.1	+3.8
	Liberal Democrats	Kelly-Marie Blundell	8,354	15.5	―23.8
	Labour	Richard Wilson	6,534	12.1	+7.0
	UKIP	Harry Aldridge	4,774	8.8	+7.0
	Green	John Pletts	2,558	4.7	New
	Guildford Greenbelt Group	Susan Parker	538	1.0	New
	Peace	John Morris	230	0.4	―0.1
	CISTA	Gerri Smyth	196	0.4	New
Majority			22,448	41.6	+27.6
Turnout			53,986	71.3	―0.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	+13.8

General election 2010: Guildford ^[31]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Anne Milton	29,618	53.3	+9.9
	Liberal Democrats	Sue Doughty	21,836	39.3	―4.0
	Labour	Tim Shand	2,812	5.1	―4.8
	UKIP	Mazhar Manzoor	1,021	1.8	+0.6
	Peace	John Morris	280	0.5	+0.2
Majority			7,782	14.0	+13.3
Turnout			55,567	72.1	+5.0
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.5

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Guildford ^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Anne Milton	22,595	43.8	+2.4
	Liberal Democrats	Sue Doughty	22,248	43.1	+0.5
	Labour	Karen Landles	5,054	9.8	―3.9
	Green	John Pletts	811	1.6	New
	UKIP	Martin Haslam	645	1.2	―0.3
	Peace	John Morris	166	0.3	―0.5
	Independent	Victoria Lavin	112	0.2	New
Majority			347	0.7	N/A
Turnout			51,631	68.3	+5.6
	Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats		Swing	+0.9

General election 2001: Guildford ^[33]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Sue Doughty	20,358	42.6	+8.5
	Conservative	Nick St Aubyn	19,820	41.4	―1.1
	Labour	Joyce Still	6,558	13.7	―3.8
	UKIP	Sonya Porter	736	1.5	+0.8
	Peace	John Morris	370	0.8	+0.3
Majority			538	1.2	N/A
Turnout			47,842	62.7	−11.9
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing	+4.7

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Guildford ^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nick St Aubyn	24,230	42.5	―12.8
	Liberal Democrats	Margaret Sharp	19,439	34.1	+1.3
	Labour	Joseph Burns	9,945	17.5	+6.1
	Referendum	James Gore	2,650	4.7	New
	UKIP	Robert McWhirter	400	0.7	New
	Peace	John Morris	294	0.5	New
Majority			4,791	8.4	―14.1
Turnout			56,958	74.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	―7.05 [n 5]

This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1992 and 1997 general elections and thus change in share of vote is based on a notional calculation.

General election 1992: Guildford ^{[35] [36]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Howell	33,516	55.3	―0.2
	Liberal Democrats	Margaret Sharp	20,112	33.1	―0.8
	Labour	Howard Mann	6,781	11.2	+0.6
	Natural Law	Alex Law	234	0.4	New
Majority			13,404	22.2	+0.6
Turnout			60,643	78.5	+3.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	+0.3

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Guildford ^[37]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Howell	32,504	55.5	+0.4
	SDP	Margaret Sharp	19,897	33.9	+0.5
	Labour	Robert Wolverson	6,216	10.6	―0.1
Majority			12,607	21.6	―0.1
Turnout			58,617	75.3	+2.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	―0.1 [n 6]

General election 1983: Guildford ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Howell	30,016	55.1	―2.2
	SDP	Margaret Sharp	18,192	33.4	+12.2 [n 7]
	Labour	Keith Chesterton	5,853	10.7	―10.5
	Party of Associates with Licensees	Anthony Farrell	425	0.8	New
Majority			11,824	21.7	―14.4
Turnout			54,486	72.5	―2.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	―7.2 [n 8]

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Howell	31,595	57.3	+8.1
	Labour	Paul Blagbrough	11,689	21.2	―1.4
	Liberal	Henry Donnelly	11,673	21.2	―7.0
	Independent Rhodesian Front	Peter Scott	232	0.4	New
Majority			19,906	36.1	+15.1
Turnout			55,189	75.3	+3.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	+4.75

General election October 1974: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Howell	25,564	49.2	+0.3
	Liberal	Christopher Fox	14,660	28.2	―3.5
	Labour	Robert Harris	11,727	22.6	+3.2
Majority			10,904	21.0	+3.8
Turnout			51,951	71.9	―8.5
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.9 [n 9]

General election February 1974: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Howell	28,152	48.9	―6.5
	Liberal	Christopher Fox	18,261	31.7	+13.7
	Labour	Jean Crow	11,175	19.4	―7.3
Majority			9,891	17.2	―11.5
Turnout			57,588	80.4	+8.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	―10.1

General election 1970: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Howell	27,203	55.4	+5.0
	Labour	Patton Smith	13,108	26.7	―6.2
	Liberal	Michael Walton	8,822	18.0	+1.3
Majority			14,095	28.7	+11.2
Turnout			49,133	72.0	―6.7
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.6

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Howell	24,116	50.4	―0.5
	Labour	Cedric Thornberry	15,771	32.9	+4.9
	Liberal	John R. Buchanan	7,992	16.7	―4.4
Majority			8,345	17.5	―5.4
Turnout			47,879	78.7	+0.1
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1964: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Nugent	24,277	50.9	―6.6
	Labour	Gwilym Emrys H Griffith	13,365	28.0	―1.1
	Liberal	Christopher John N Martin	10,052	21.1	+7.7
Majority			10,912	22.9	―5.5
Turnout			47,694	78.6	―1.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	―2.8

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Nugent	27,198	57.5	−5.7
	Labour	George R. Bellerby	13,756	29.1	−7.7
	Liberal	Arthur Braybrooke	6,318	13.4	New
Majority			13,442	28.4	+2.0
Turnout			47,272	80.2	+3.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.0 [n 10]

General election 1955: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Nugent	27,113	63.20	0.0
	Labour	George R Bellerby	15,785	36.79	0.0
Majority			11,328	26.41	0.0
Turnout			42,898	76.4	-3.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	0.0

General election 1951: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Nugent	27,604	63.20	+7.7
	Labour	Vernon Wilkinson	16,068	36.79	+2.5
Majority			11,536	26.41	+5.2
Turnout			43,672	79.6	-4.5
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.1

General election 1950: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Nugent	24,983	55.5	+5.5
	Labour	Vernon Wilkinson	15,443	34.3	+1.4
	Liberal	Frederick Philpott	4,552	10.12	−7.0
Majority			9540	21.21	+4.1
Turnout			44,978	84.07	+9.2
	Conservative hold		Swing

Boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1950 general election. From 1918 to 1950 the three parts of western Surrey are set out at the 1918 results below. The next change saw an additional seat duty carved out, to be Woking. As a result, Guildford, now oversized, shrank considerably in area and population. To the south the areas of Godalming, Elstead, Thursley, Whitley, Haslemere and Chiddingford were added to the Farnham seat. To the east Send, Ripley, Wisley, Ockham, St Martha, Albury, Shere, Clandon and Horsley were added to Dorking. ^[39]

These boundaries centred on the town of Guildford plus an area southwards towards Cranleigh, became, with small changes in later reviews, form the basic shape for Guildford until present.

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Jarvis	33,091	50.0	−25.0
	Labour	Vernon George Wilkinson	21,789	32.93	+7.87
	Liberal	Joseph Gerald Curie Ruston	11,281	17.1	New
Majority			11,302	17.1	-32.8
Turnout			66,161	74.9	+5.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	−16.4

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Guildford ^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Jarvis	35,384	74.98
	Labour	FA Campbell	11,833	25.06
Majority			23,551	49.88
Turnout			47,217	69.27
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1931: Guildford ^[41]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Charles Rhys	39,008	86.21
	Labour	Sidney Peck	6,242	13.79
Majority			32,766	72.42
Turnout			45,250	72.26
	Conservative hold		Swing

1931 Guildford by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Charles Rhys	Unopposed	N/A	N/A
	Conservative hold

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Guildford ^[42]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Henry Buckingham	20,550	48.3	−14.0
	Liberal	Somerset Stopford Brooke	15,984	37.6	+21.1
	Labour	Lawrence Miles Worsnop	5,996	14.1	−7.1
Majority			4,566	10.7	−30.4
Turnout			42,530	72.1	+0.8
Registered electors			58,958
	Unionist hold		Swing	−17.6

General election 1924: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Henry Buckingham	18,273	62.3	+10.0
	Labour	Frank Markham	6,227	21.2	+1.7
	Liberal	Samuel Parnell Kerr	4,842	16.5	−11.7
Majority			12,046	41.1	+17.0
Turnout			29,342	71.3	+3.7
Registered electors			41,164
	Unionist hold		Swing	+4.2

General election 1923: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Henry Buckingham	14,117	52.3	−18.3
	Liberal	Samuel Parnell Kerr	7,601	28.2	New
	Labour	William Bennett	5,260	19.5	−9.9
Majority			6,516	24.1	−17.1
Turnout			26,978	67.6	+2.2
Registered electors			39,931
	Unionist hold		Swing	−4.2

General election 1922: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Henry Buckingham	18,045	70.6	−1.5
	Labour	William Bennett	7,514	29.4	+1.5
Majority			10,531	41.2	−3.0
Turnout			25,559	65.4	+15.4
Registered electors			39,087
	Unionist hold		Swing	−1.5

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
C	Unionist	Edgar Horne	13,149	72.1	+8.4
	Labour	William Bennett	5,078	27.9	New
Majority			8,071	44.2	+16.8
Turnout			18,227	50.0	−33.0
Registered electors			36,427
	Unionist hold		Swing
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

From 1885 to 1918 the west part of Surrey had been represented by two seats - in the north the seat of Chertsey, in the south that of Guildford. Boundaries were redrawn for proper apportionment in time for the 1918 general election such that the same area saw three seats - Farnham in the west, Chertsey in the north east and Guildford in the south east.

As a result, the seat lost the areas of Ash, Normandy, Seale, Frensham and Farnham, towards its west, but to the east gained the areas of Merrow, Send, Ripley, Ockham, Wisley, Clandon and Horsley from Chertsey. ^[43]

Horne

General election December 1910: Guildford ^[44]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Edgar Horne	8,463	63.7	−1.1
	Liberal	Arthur Jex Davey	4,832	36.3	+1.1
Majority			3,631	27.4	−2.2
Turnout			13,295	83.0	−6.2
Registered electors			16,020
	Conservative hold		Swing	−1.1

Methuen

General election January 1910: Guildford ^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Edgar Horne	9,264	64.8	+18.1
	Liberal	Algernon Methuen	5,033	35.2	−18.1
Majority			4,231	29.6	N/A
Turnout			14,297	89.2	+5.8
Registered electors			16,020
	Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing	+18.1

Elections in the 1900s

Cowan

General election January 1906: Guildford ^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Henry Cowan	6,430	53.3	+15.0
	Conservative	St John Brodrick	5,630	46.7	−15.0
Majority			800	6.6	N/A
Turnout			12,060	83.4	+7.9
Registered electors			14,469
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing	+15.0

1900 Guildford by-election ^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	St John Brodrick	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

General election 1900: Guildford ^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	St John Brodrick	5,816	61.7	N/A
	Liberal	AW Chapman	3,609	38.3	New
Majority			2,207	23.4	N/A
Turnout			9,425	75.5	N/A
Registered electors			12,477
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Guildford ^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	St John Brodrick	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

General election 1892: Guildford ^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	St John Brodrick	5,191	58.3	N/A
	Liberal	George Patrick Charles Lawrence [46] [47]	3,720	41.7	New
Majority			1,471	16.6	N/A
Turnout			8,911	79.2	N/A
Registered electors			11,248
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Guildford ^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	St John Brodrick	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

General election 1885: Guildford ^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	St John Brodrick	4,485	54.5	−0.8
	Liberal	Ellis Duncombe Gosling	3,750	45.5	+0.8
Majority			735	9.0	−1.6
Turnout			8,235	82.5	−8.3
Registered electors			9,978
	Conservative hold		Swing	−0.8

Constituency boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1885 general election. From 1868 to 1885 the west part of Surrey had been represented by two constituencies, one known as Guildford (which consisted of the town centre of Guildford and little else) and one constituency known as Surrey Western, which comprised the rest of that part of the county of Surrey. The Guildford constituency was both geographically and in size of electorate significantly smaller than the Surrey Western constituency. The 1885 to 1918 constituency boundaries saw the area of west Surrey divided into two constituencies more equal in size of population and land area. The north part of west Surrey was given the constituency name Chertsey, the south part Guildford. ^[48]

^[49]

General election 1880: Guildford

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Denzil Onslow	705	55.3	−5.7
	Liberal	Thomas R. Kemp [50]	571	44.7	+5.7
Majority			134	10.6	−11.4
Turnout			1,276	90.8	+6.3
Registered electors			1,406
	Conservative hold		Swing	−5.7

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Guildford ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Denzil Onslow	673	61.0	+12.0
	Liberal	Guildford Onslow [20]	430	39.0	−12.0
Majority			243	22.0	N/A
Turnout			1,103	84.5	−1.7
Registered electors			1,306
	Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing	+12.0

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Guildford ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Guildford Onslow [20]	536	51.0	−12.8
	Conservative	Richard Garth	515	49.0	+12.8
Majority			21	2.0	+0.3
Turnout			1,051	86.2	−3.5
Registered electors			1,219
	Liberal hold		Swing	−12.8

Constituency boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1868 election.

Prior to the 1868 general election, the constituency of Guildford was represented by two Members of Parliament. That was reduced to one from 1868 onwards.

The 1868 to 1885 constituency known as Guildford was geographically limited to an area around the current centre of Guildford town. This is in marked contrast to the various post-1885 versions of the constituency known as Guildford all of which have had a much greater geographical area. The 1868 constituency was, at its maximum, little over one mile east to west, and just over one mile north to south. ^[51] (Most of the area which is in the modern constituency of Guildford would in 1868 have been part of the Surrey Western Constituency, rather than the Guildford Constituency.)

By-election, 17 December 1866: Guildford ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Garth	339	53.0	+16.8
	Liberal	William Willmer Pocock	301	47.0	−16.8
Majority			38	6.0	−4.3
Turnout			640	96.0	+6.3
Registered electors			667
	Conservative hold		Swing	+16.8

The 17 December 1866 by-election was caused by Bovill resigning as an MP following his appointment to judicial office, namely Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

By-election, 11 July 1866: Guildford ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	William Bovill	316	96.6	+60.4
	Liberal	Henry Lawes Long [52]	11	3.4	−60.4
Majority			305	93.2	+82.9
Turnout			327	49.0	−40.7
Registered electors			667
	Conservative hold		Swing	+60.4

The 11 July 1866 by-election resulted from the need of Bovill to seek re-election upon his appointment as Solicitor General for England and Wales. Long withdrew from the contest before polling. ^[53]

General election 1865: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Guildford Onslow [20]	333	37.9	N/A
	Conservative	William Bovill	318	36.2	N/A
	Liberal	William Willmer Pocock [54]	228	25.9	N/A
Turnout			599 (est)	89.7 (est)	N/A
Registered electors			667
Majority			15	1.7	N/A
	Liberal hold		Swing	N/A
Majority			90	10.3	N/A
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

Elections in the 1850s

Party designations for many candidates during the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s can be problematic as party ties were not as strong as those that developed, in Britain, in the late 19th century. Therefore, for the 1830s to 1850s election results, listed below, the term Liberal includes Whigs and Radicals; and the term Conservative includes Tories and Peelites, unless otherwise specified.

General election 1859: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Guildford Onslow [20]	Unopposed
	Conservative	William Bovill	Unopposed
Registered electors			677
	Liberal hold
	Conservative hold

By-election, 22 October 1858: Guildford ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Guildford Onslow [20]	268	52.9	+12.0
	Conservative	William John Evelyn [55]	239	47.1	+7.5
Majority			29	5.8	+4.5
Turnout			507	76.1	+12.0
Registered electors			666
	Whig hold		Swing	+2.3

The 22 October 1858 by-election was caused by RD Mangles resigning as an MP following his appointment as Member of the Council of India.

General election 1857: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Ross Donnelly Mangles	349	40.9	−1.9
	Conservative	William Bovill	338	39.6	+11.4
	Radical	James Bell	167	19.6	−9.4
Turnout			427 (est)	64.1 (est)	−2.6
Registered electors			666
Majority			11	1.3	−12.5
	Whig hold		Swing	−3.8
Majority			171	20.0	N/A
	Conservative gain from Radical		Swing	+10.4

General election 1852: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Ross Donnelly Mangles	370	42.8	+11.0
	Radical	James Bell	251	29.0	N/A
	Conservative	Thomas Lyon Thurlow [56]	244	28.2	−40.0
Turnout			433 (est)	66.7 (est)	+1.6
Registered electors			648
Majority			119	13.8	+6.1
	Whig hold		Swing	+15.5
Majority			7	0.8	N/A
	Radical gain from Conservative		Swing	N/A

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Henry Currie	336	44.1	+24.0
	Whig	Ross Donnelly Mangles	242	31.8	−26.0
	Conservative	Thomas Lyon Thurlow [57]	184	24.1	+2.0
Turnout			381 (est)	65.1 (est)	−17.4
Registered electors			585
Majority			94	12.3	N/A
	Conservative gain from Whig		Swing	+18.5
Majority			58	7.7	+2.2
	Whig hold		Swing	−26.0

General election 1841: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^{[49] [13]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Ross Donnelly Mangles	242	30.2	+17.0
	Whig	Charles Baring Wall	221	27.6	+14.4
	Conservative	James Yorke Scarlett	177	22.1	−9.3
	Conservative	Henry Currie	161	20.1	−22.0
Majority			44	5.5	N/A
Turnout			401 (est)	82.5 (est)	+0.1
Registered electors			486
	Whig gain from Conservative		Swing	+16.3
	Whig gain from Conservative		Swing	+15.0

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^{[49] [13]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Charles Baring Wall	252	42.1	+25.5
	Conservative	James Yorke Scarlett	188	31.4	+14.8
	Whig	James Mangles	159	26.5	−40.2
Majority			29	4.7	−8.2
Turnout			350	82.4	+19.5
Registered electors			425
	Conservative hold		Swing	+22.8
	Conservative gain from Whig		Swing	+17.5

General election 1835: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^{[49] [13]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	James Mangles	299	46.4	−2.1
	Conservative	Charles Baring Wall	214	33.2	+4.0
	Whig	Robert Alfred Cloyne Austen [58]	131	20.3	−2.1
Turnout			338	62.9	−25.7
Registered electors			537
Majority			85	13.2	−6.1
	Whig hold		Swing	−2.1
Majority			83	12.9	+6.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	+4.1

General election 1832: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^{[49] [13]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	James Mangles	299	48.5	+22.0
	Tory	Charles Baring Wall	180	29.2	−12.2
	Whig	Charles Francis Norton	138	22.4	−9.6
Turnout			303	88.6	−4.0
Registered electors			342
Majority			119	19.3	+16.4
	Whig hold		Swing	+14.1
Majority			42	6.8	N/A
	Tory gain from Whig		Swing	−12.3

Constituency boundaries were redrawn in time for the 1832 general election. ^[59]

General election 1831: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^{[13] [60]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Charles Francis Norton	99	32.0	+20.4
	Whig	James Mangles	82	26.5	+14.9
	Tory	George Holme Sumner	73	23.6	−8.1
	Tory	Charles Baring Wall	55	17.8	−27.4
Majority			9	2.9	N/A
Turnout			162	92.6	+18.6
Registered electors			175
	Whig gain from Tory		Swing	+19.1
	Whig gain from Tory		Swing	+16.3

General election 1830: Guildford (top 2 candidates elected) ^{[13] [60]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Tory	Charles Baring Wall	117	45.2
	Tory	George Holme Sumner	82	31.7
	Whig	George Chapple Norton	60	23.2
Majority			22	8.5
Turnout			c. 130	c. 74.0
Registered electors			c. 175
	Tory hold
	Tory gain from Whig

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Surrey

Notes

1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
3. To the House of Commons of England until 1708, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1801, and to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until 1885.
4. At the 1806 general election, two Tories were returned: Onslow and Sumner. However, a petition was lodged, and on 16 March 1807 Sumner's election was overturned in favour of the 3rd-placed candidate, the Whig Chapple Norton
5. Due to ward changes somewhat notional (Con-Lib Dem) swing and (Con-Lab) was higher: -9.45
6. Con to Lib
7. Notional, based on pact kept here for Liberals to field candidates, pre-merger in forming the Liberal Democrats
8. Notional Con to SDP swing, most of this swing was Lab and Lib to SDP, shown by the single party swing of -2.2%
9. Again mostly an opposite sign swing caused by a larger other two-party swing. Here: Lib to Lab
10. Theoretical Con-Lab swing but wiped out by gains from an additional opponent party, a Liberal

References

1. "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
2. Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Guildford
3. Reform Act 1867: representation reduced to one seat with effect from the 1868 general election.
4. Map Boundary Commission VisionofBritain
5. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
6. "Guildford: New Boundaries 2023 Calculation". Electoral Calculus. 23 March 2023.
7. LGBCE. "Guildford | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
8. "The Guildford (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
9. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
10. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
11. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
12. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "G" (part 2)
13. Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 66–68.
14. For political affiliation see Stoke next Guildford pp57-8, 1999 edition, author Lyn Clark, publisher Phillimore.
15. "Elections Decided" . Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 10 July 1841. p. 6. Retrieved 5 November 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
16. "Towns and Cities of England and Wales" . Newcastle Journal. 10 July 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 5 November 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
17. Kinealy, Christine (2013). "Notes". Charity and the Great Hunger in Ireland: The Kindness of Strangers. London: Bloomsbury. p. 345. ISBN   978-1-4411-7660-8 . Retrieved 13 May 2018.
18. "Guildford". London Standard. 2 July 1852. p. 4. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
19. "Guildford Election" . Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 10 July 1852. pp. 4, 7. Retrieved 13 May 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
20. For political affiliation see Guildford p180, 1982 edition, author ER Chamberlin, publisher Phillimore.
21. "News of the Week" . Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 30 October 1858. p. 4. Retrieved 13 May 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
22. "Town Talk" . Usk Observer, Raglan Herald, and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser. 30 October 1858. p. 2. Retrieved 13 May 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
23. "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack . Retrieved 17 February 2024.
24. Guildford Labour Party [@GuildfordLabour] (15 April 2024). "We're delighted to announce the selection of @sarahgillinson as our Labour candidate for the General Election, here in the seat of Guildford! We are looking forward to Sarah bringing her values and ideas to campaign for Labour-led change in Guildford" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
25. "Angela Richardson readopted as Conservative candidate". Angela Richardson . Retrieved 17 February 2024.
26. "Guildford Constituency". Reform UK . Retrieved 17 February 2024.
27. "Guildford Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
28. "Guildford parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
29. "Guildford" . Retrieved 1 April 2017.
30. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
31. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
32. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
33. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
34. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
35. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
36. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
37. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
38. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
39. For 1918 to 1950 constituency see http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1917/Surrey_1917, for 1950 to 1955 constituency see http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1900s/Great_Britain_Sheet2
40. "Politicsresources.net - Official Web Site ✔".
41. "Politicsresources.net - Official Web Site ✔".
42. 1918-1929 results see British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949 FWS Craig
43. See http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1917/Surrey_1917 for map of constituencies used in 1918 and compare to http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1885/Surrey_1885 for map of 1885-1918 constituencies.
44. 1885-1910 results see British Parliamentary Results 1885-1918 FWS Craig
45. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   9781349022984.
46. "Sir Horace Davey, Q.C., M.P., has consented to address a Liberal meeting at Guildford on Monday evening". The Morning Post . 27 September 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
47. Lythgoe, Darrin. "Horace Davey". Tatham Family History. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
48. For 1868 constituency boundary maps see http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1868/Guildford_1868 For 1885 to 1918 constituency boundary map see http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1885/Surrey_1885
49. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   978-1-349-02349-3.
50. "The Pollings" . Huddersfield Chronicle. 3 April 1880. p. 7. Retrieved 28 November 2017– via British Newspaper Archive.
51. The boundary ran roughly from just west of Guildford Railway Station, to Cross Lanes in the east. See http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1868/Guildford_1868 for further details.
52. "The by-elections" . London Evening Standard . 12 July 1866. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 15 February 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
53. "Election Intelligence" . Suffolk and Essex Free Press. 19 July 1866. p. 3. Retrieved 15 February 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
54. "To the Electors of the Borough of Guildford" . Surrey Advertiser . 22 July 1865. p. 1. Retrieved 15 February 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
55. "Guildford Election" . West Surrey Times. 30 October 1858. p. 1. Retrieved 13 May 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
56. "West Surrey" . Windsor and Eton Express. 24 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 13 May 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
57. "Guildford Election" . Sussex Advertiser. 3 August 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 5 November 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
58. "6 January 1835" . London Courier and Evening Gazette. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2020– via British Newspaper Archive.
59. See http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1868/Guildford_1868 for 1832 constituency boundaries.
60. Jenkins, Terry; Spencer, Howard. "Guildford". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 13 April 2020.

Sources

• Election result, 2015 (BBC)
• Election result, 2010 (BBC)
• Election result, 2005 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997 - 2001 (BBC)
• Election results, 1997 - 2001 Archived 21 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1983 - 1992 (Election Demon)
• Election results, 1945 - 1979 (Political Resources)

51°14′46″N0°33′07″W / 51.246°N 0.552°W / 51.246; -0.552